H.—32

2

hand; and there are still at least as many more volumes requiring treatment, the Government Printer not having been able, up to the present, to undertake the work. Also, all new books will henceforth require to be stamped with their class-numbers. A bindery on the premises is a feature of most of the important libraries throughout the world. Consideration of this question of binding was postponed by the Joint Library Committee on the 18th July last. The rooms of the new Library building are now being used for various extraneous purposes, and I would again strongly urge that such use should in every case be temporary only. I would also repeat "that it is most important that the resolution of the Joint Library Committee of the 11th July, 1898, instructing the architect to place the post-office outside the library, should be carried out." This resolution the Joint Library Committee strongly reiterated on the 31st August, 1899. I would suggest that there is no reason why the post-office should not continue to remain in its present position after the removal of the books to their new quarters. The basement of the new building, designed for the accommodation of bound newspapers and of matter awaiting binding, will, in my opinion, require much attention before it is fit for use. It is still very damp ; it is without fireplaces or radiators for heating and drying purposes, and the method of lighting it seems to need alteration. The present prism area-lights are continually breaking, and through the resulting holes rain-water and various rubbish find a free entrance. I recommend the removal of these lights and the substitution of excavated areas and barred windows. Apparently, at least a year will be required in which to dry this basement, and even more time for drying the strong-rooms for documents, as these rooms were locked up while still wet, and have been kept locked up for many months. As pointed out last year, the administration of the Library in the new building will be found to require the addition of two more permanent officers to the staff, of whom one at least should be competent in every particular, familiar with books and with methods of literary work, accurate, and methodical, and prepared to devote himself to the best interests of the Library, and to take a pride and pleasure therein. In this connection I quote Mr. Collier, sometime Librarian, who, in his report on the applications for the second assistantship in 1889, said, ' The parliamentary Library is on its way to become a colonial —it would be premature to say a national — library, and the Assistant appointed should have the education, the acquirements, and the habits of mind befitting an officer of such an institution." And the Joint Library Committee recognised this urgent need when, on the 26th August last, they recommended that in addition to a Librarian and First Assistant there should be appointed " a competent person of literary attainments "as Second Assistant. Reference to a table prepared last year to the order of the Joint Library Committee will show that, when compared, with the staffs of similar institutions elsewhere, the present Library staff is much underpaid. I have, &c, H. L. James, Assistant Librarian. The Hon. the Chairman, Joint Library Committee.

APPENDIX No. 1. Cash Balance-sheet foe the Yeah ending the 31st March, 1900. Receipts. Expenditube. £. s. d. £. s. d. To Balance .. .. .. ■ .. 282 1 6 By Books by purchase .. .. .. 411 4 7 Fees for private bills .. .. .. 75 0 0 Binding and stamping by Home agents .. 79 5 8 Annual appropriation .. .. .. 600 0 0 Periodicals and annuals .. .. 203 17 8 Postage .. .. .. .. 0 18 5 Freight .. .. .. 21 12 7 Marine insurance .. .. .. 2 5 1 Small stores .. .. .. .. 699 Insurance .. .. .. 40 0 0 Cleaning and wages .. .. .. 54 8 3 Extra clerical assistance .. .. 22 5 0 Packing .. .. .. .. 214 0 Advertising .. .. .. .. 0 17 6 Balance .. .. .. .. 11l 3 0 £957 1 6 £957 1 6

APPENDIX No. 2. Donations.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,875 copies), £1 6s. 6d.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9oo. Price 3d.}

Donor. Title of Work. Wellington District Law Society George Hogben (Author) James Stuckey (Secretary) Charles Beldam (acting for the Authoress) S. Peroy Smith (Author) .. ! Catalogue of the Supreme Court Library. .. ! Methode nacurelle pour apprendre le franeais. .. J New Zealand Hereford Cattle Breeders' Association herd-book. .. I " The Hermit Princes." • ■ " Lost in the Wilds of Canada." .. i " Hawaiki: the home of the Maori."